Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE) | Oireachtas source

There have been campaigns for years by groups that represent more than 500,000 retired workers. It is 18 months since the Bill passed Second Stage in the House, but the Minister of State is just saying that we will have a consultation. Does he accept it is a problem that six months after a person who has paid into an occupational pension scheme for all his or her working life retires, that person has no say in any proposed changes, has no access to an effective mechanism to air issues or seek redress and that, in effect, his or her pension can be raided? It can be negotiated away, and the retired person has no input whatsoever. The person has no right to be consulted before any of those changes are made. One's income can be slashed. Does the Minister of State accept there is a problem in this regard that needs to be addressed? If he does not think our Bill is the way to do it, what is he going to do? Having a consultation is just kicking the can down the road at this point. If he had said this 18 months ago, that would be fine. A year and a half has passed, however, and it is not even clear if the Minister of State accepts that there is a fundamental issue.

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